Wyoming, North Dakota, Utah and Colorado had challenged the fracking rule.

"We were the first state to regulate fracking," said Mead. "The BLM rule overreaches its authority and creates confusion."

In an order signed Tuesday, Skavdahl said the BLM can't set the rules because "regulation of an activity must be by Congressional authority, not administrative fiat."

"The court got it right," said Mead. "This is of particular importance not only to Wyoming, but the country. I have and I will continue to aggressively assert Wyoming's authority when threatened by federal overreach."